By my reckoning, if the gremlins in the system don’t delay the sending of this message, there are just two more sleeps until Christmas!  We hope that you all have a very happy one wherever you are and whatever your plans for the last few days of 2023. Alas no snow forecast for Essex and Herts but it does look as if it will be churning up nicely for the 22nd Stansted Stagger on 7th January 2024……...  we have a reputation to live up to for some interesting weather for this particular challenge and Peter Tremain has designed a fantastic new route.

It is rewarding to see that the Stagger is yet another sell out event and we are grateful to all of you who have supported our social and challenge walk programme so enthusiastically during 2023 whether by participating, leading walks or marshalling. It’s been encouraging to see new members, new marshals and new walk leaders alongside old friends and we hope that you have enjoyed being part of the Essex & Herts family as well as the wider community within the LDWA. A big thank you as ever to the event organisers and marshals who loyally give so freely of their time. 

We welcome ideas for what we can provide for you during the next 12 months and looking still further ahead we would love to hear your views on how we can celebrate our big anniversary in 2025  - yes, I know it’s hard to believe but Essex & Herts group will be turning 50!  Our first ever social walk was in fact held on 23rd February 1975 and things have grown a bit since then.

Many of you will remember the events held to commemorate our 40th birthday and we would like to ensure that our 50th is also celebrated in style. We already have an idea for a Golden Anniversary 50 mile challenge and hope also to run some old favourites from past decades - but how else would you like to see us celebrate?  We’d like to hear your ideas so either email them to me at essexandherts.chair@ldwa.org.uk  or pass them to a committee member either on a walk or by using the contact details on the Essex & Herts website.  Better still, come along to our AGM on Saturday 3rd February and join the discussion followed by a relatively mud free walk along the Harlow Sculpture Trail led by Peter Aylmer. 

We’re still looking for people to join our local committee and help us oversee our programme of events- it really doesn’t take up a lot of your time if everyone helps just a bit and likes being part of a team. Please do get in touch with me if you think you can help us. 
Have a wonderful festive season and I wish you all the very best for 2024 with some special walking experiences 

My very best wishes 

Gill 🤶